Land & environment

Construction has begun on the new Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation, which will deliver more water to farmers in the northwest Tasmanian region. Increased water supply will be a key enabler for farmers in the region, allowing them to invest, diversify, expand and value add to their crops.

Property Rights Australia says the Federal government’s major overhaul of environmental law duplicating the traditional State role was always going to be a problem for an under resourced Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water DCCEEW. Compounding the problem is a surge in complaints regarding alleged “illegal tree clearing”, placing increasing pressure on both regulators and rural landowners.

The Federal Government's announcement that it will consider purchasing water entitlements in the northern Murray-Darling Basin has, unsurprisingly, provoked differing responses. The announcement from Minister Watt and the responses from Nationals Senator and Shadow Minister for Water, Ross Cadell, from the Shadow Minister for Water (NSW), Steph Cooke, and from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW point to the different issues and views on this contentious topic.

Sharks and rays are among the most endangered groups of animals on the planet ... The marine parks around Lord Howe Island have now been recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area ... The waters here support feeding and reproduction for Galapagos sharks...

And! We give you your weeks farming weather thanks to the BOM and your country news with Fiona L Fox from ARR.News.

The Commonwealth must finally deliver a new weather radar for the Barkly region that the region has been waiting a decade for ... “The residents of the Barkly have been waiting for a new weather radar since the Federal Government de-commissioned the old one in 2015 - over a decade ago,” Mr Edgington said.

If you're still keen to lend a hand to help fire-affected folks in Harcourt, it's not too late and the volunteers of BlazeAid want you to know that you'd be welcome aboard. The TT wandered up to the former school camp at Derby Hill to chat and find out how it all works.

Quill. Community spirit was alive and well at Marnoo on Sunday, February 22, as farmers and friends affected by mining and the renewable energy push came together in support and to share their stories – it was standing room only at the Marnoo Cricket Ground ... Across Victoria Alliance (AVA) has united 27 allied groups across the whole of Australia in the fight against the mining and renewables projects throughout the regions.

Central Coast Councillor Jared Wright has ramped up calls for State Government action on shark control following the recent release of the International Shark Attack File, which confirmed that Australia recorded the world's highest total of fatal shark attacks on humans in 2025. "Of 12 fatalities, nine were from Australia."

The NSW Government has announced an expansion of their Drought Plan and while welcome, more needs to be done, according to Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM (of Temora Shire). "Our farmers in south-west NSW are struggling and they need support with fodder and water freight costs. Keeping core livestock alive is a priority and simply enabling bigger debts is short on insight," he said.

NSW Farmers says plans to pollute rural and regional communities with Sydney’s rubbish should be immediately rejected. The proposed Parkes Incinerator would burn 700,000 tonnes of Sydney's red-bin rubbish each year if approved, and NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said it was totally unacceptable to force any regional community to be the dumping ground for Sydney waste if they did not agree.

Rural Aid has released its 2026 Farm Recovery Event (FRE) program, delivering practical, hands-on support to farming communities impacted by floods, fires, cyclones and ongoing drought. These week-long events bring together volunteers from across the country to help restore damaged farm infrastructure, improve productivity and support the wellbeing of farming families doing it tough.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s environmental reforms have created a confusing and costly mess, with farmers unable to get the information or help they need ... “Unfortunately, farmers are struggling to get information about what they can and can’t do under the new requirements. Machinery operators have also said the requirements will damage their business and cut jobs..."

The Murray River Group of Councils (MRGC) met in Melbourne last week for a dedicated strategic forum to discuss and shape its initial response to the 2026 Basin Plan Review. Mayors and CEOs from the MRGC … received a comprehensive briefing from Murray–Darling Basin Authority CEO Andrew McConville and senior executives on the MDBA’s recently released Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper.

Wheatstock (Kalannie Oval Feb 28 2026) gets turned up to 11, Jack Brennan explains why!

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) met for the first time this year on 19 February in Canberra on the Lands of the Ngunnawal people with all members present.

For years, residents of Wilcannia and Menindee say they have been living with the consequences of a government mapping error they had no part in creating. A one-metre inaccuracy in state-provided flood mapping has incorrectly placed large sections of both towns inside flood-prone zones, with consequences that have quietly devastated the ability of ordinary people to insure their homes and develop their land.

The Parliamentary Committee into the State’s algal bloom crisis has been unable to reach a consensus, with Labor members blocking the Committee including its findings in the formal report. The Committee was forced to publish multiple dissenting reports, from the Liberal team and Committee Chair, Greens MLC Rob Simms.

Net zero is another step closer to being achieved, as the City of Greater Geraldton commences work to begin gas flaring at Meru Waste Management Facility. The project will help reduce emissions from landfill by abating the potent greenhouse gas, methane.

The Victorian Minister for Planning, the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP, has decided that an environmental effect statement is required for the Fingerboards Critical Minerals Project and given reasons for her decision. Gippsland Critical Minerals Pty Ltd, the proponent of the Fingerboards Project, has responded to the decision. The community action group, Mine Free Glenaladale, has responded to the decision and GCM's statement.

More than a quarter of a century's worth of volunteer work to restore the timber trestle bridges on the old Cudgewa-Wodonga railway line was gone in a flash when the Walwa-Mt Lawson bushfire laid waste to the structures last month. A strong wind change pushed the out-of-control bushfire towards the bridges near Shelley, Koetong and the Tallangatta Valley on January 8th and within 24 hours, 15 of the 16 bridges had been destroyed.